It’s a known fact that our minds and bodies need rest, but that doesn’t make it an easy habit to practice. Our lives are often filled with responsibilities, to-do lists, meetings, events, and other important things that we prioritize above resting.
Rest means more than just sleeping. When we truly rest, we relax our minds and bodies by refreshing our spirits, replenishing our energy, and relieving our stress and weariness.
*To learn more about the importance of rest, read my previous post linked below:
Benefits of Rest
There are two types of rest: active and passive.
Active rest is when we engage in practices that support relaxation and rejuvenation, like going for a walk, meditating, exercising, or getting a massage.
Passive rest involves activities that lack stimulation, such as taking a nap, deep breathing, or listening to music.
When we think about the importance of rest, we should consider what type of rest our bodies and minds need:
Physical rest: letting our bodies recover from physical exertion.
Mental rest: giving our minds a break from mental stimulation and continuous cognitive activity.
Emotional rest: allowing ourselves to recharge and recover from emotional stressors.
The health benefits of restful habits include:
improved cardiovascular health
relieved chronic pain
improved mood
calming the nervous system
help to manage stress levels
reduced fatigue
enhanced cognitive function
improved immune system health
Resting in the Bible
The most impactful thing I’ve discovered about rest is realizing that God wants us to rest.
I first found this truth in 1 Kings 19, after Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and the Lord burned his sacrifice offered upon an entirely saturated altar. After this exceptional display of God’s power, Elijah ends up running for his life, finding himself alone in the wilderness.
First Kings 19:4-9 says, “’I have had enough, Lord,’ [Elijah] said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.”
Elijah was physically and mentally exhausted. He had just witnessed the supernatural power of God and was now running from the king who wanted to kill him. It sounds like Elijah was at the end of his rope, desperate for deliverance and reprieve from his problems. Yet, the Lord provided Elijah with rest. He led Elijah to seclusion in the wilderness to sleep, providing nutrients and sustenance to revive his energy and endurance. God knew the physical needs Elijah had, and He met them. He provided exactly what Elijah needed to nourish his spirit and build up his physical strength so that he could keep moving forward and accomplish what the Lord had planned for his life.
As I processed this story in Scripture, I began to realize how essential rest really is. It is something God has always prioritized.
The Sabbath
“Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:3
It was at Creation when God first established the necessity of rest. He designed the Sabbath to be a holy part of life when people rest from their work and spend time renewing their strength.
Mark 2:27 says, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.’” We are not supposed to get caught up in the legalities of religious expectations on the Sabbath. God created the Sabbath for us because He knows we need time to rest.
Jesus Practiced Rest
It says in Mark 6:31, “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” Rest was a practical habit that Jesus prioritized. As Christ-followers, we need to learn by His example and realize the importance of rest to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.
Learning to Rest
For the last two years, I’ve been in a season of restoration. It has been an exhilarating, healing, and unbelievable time learning more about myself and discovering the goodness of God in my life. Although I feel like I’m at the end of this rejuvenating season, I’m still learning how to rest.
There are a lot of behind-the-scenes stressors happening in my life, things that are burdening my heart for answered prayers. As I begin to worry and fret if God will meet needs, do miracles, and fulfill promises, He keeps reminding me to rest:
Rest in His presence.
Rest in His provision.
Rest in His faithfulness.
Rest in His love.
Rest in His sovereignty.
When I choose to leave my worries and fears in the Lord’s mighty hands, my soul finds true rest. I prefer to be in control, have a plan, and know the right thing to do. But right now, I’m learning to release my control—because, really, I don’t have much control anyway. God is in ultimate control, and as I lean into His protection and faithfulness, I begin to abide in His love and peace.
Those are two actions the Lord has taught me this week: abide and lean.
Abide means to dwell, remain, be present, and be held and kept. When I abide in the Lord, I’m dwelling in His presence, remaining in sync with the Holy Spirit, being present in the moment, and releasing myself to be held and kept in His loving care.
To lean means to incline and rest for support or to cause something to rest against. When I lean into my faith and lean against God’s love and sovereignty, I find rest and support through my troubles.
I’ve taken the last month off from writing my blog. This was a difficult decision because I want to publish new content and share my life lessons with you. But, God knew I needed to rest. He already saw the circumstances about to happen, and He wanted me to take a break and practice resting.
This lesson of rest hasn’t involved many naps or quality sleep, but it has taught me how to abide and lean into Jesus.
No matter what blessings or chaos life has in store, prioritizing rest is an essential practice that will improve your health and bring you closer to God’s unfailing love. Take time today to rest and know that God is holding you right where you are.
"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe." Psalm 4:8
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